Alright guys hope you can help I'm completely stumped.

1998 Dodge Dakota, 2wd 3.9 liter engine.

rebuild the motor and re installed, now I cant get the car to start. i have the timing marks lined up dot to dot like numerous books and sites seem to point out but when I check for the compression stroke stoke it only happens when the marks are dot to line.

As in dot on the crankshaft gear and line on the camshaft gear.

now no matter how I seem to set the timing marks the compression stroke only seems to happen with it dot - to - line like that.

I am at a loss as to how to get the compression to stroke to match up with the Dot-to-Dot timing marks.

any help may and this nightmare for me and that will result in my unending gratitude.

 

take out #1 plug , turn over with your finger over the hole until you feel the air come out, then check the marks

 

When i do so the marks line up to Dot-to-line no matter how I set the timing this is the only way the compression stroke seems to line up is dot-to-line.

 

distributor, right? when the compression comes out #1 then the rotor should be pointing to #1 spark plug wire. then re do the wires on the cap in the correct order

 

Have and the wiring is set up with the rotor on the #1 plug.

now no matter if the distributor is set to #1 plug one the dot-to-dot marks or dot-to-line marks it wont fire right.

 

in my experience the timing chain would have to be out. i don't know how the marks are supposed to be . hopefully it is a non interference engine and some valves aren't bent. that's the extent of my knowledge.

 

did you spin it over on the stand with the valve covers off? Hit it with a timing light?

 

we had the engine completely ripped apart. all the tappets and rod pulled as well as all the valves and pistons pulled out.

replaced all the rings and bearing, gaskets and seals replaced; then reassembled the engine.

yes we did hit it with the timing light and its shows that it is spot on.

 

Can you post a picture of the timing marks?

If the dots align, #1 is at TDC.

 

did some testing will post a photo in a bit.

When the the marks align dot-to-dot the #4 piston is at top during the compression stroke.